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Printing Ink, Chemicals and Pressroom Consumables
News Release from: Xsys Print Solutions | Subject: Holographink
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 January 2007
Holograph Ink Forms Card Code To Fight
Fraud
A telephone card issuer in Italy has taken action to curtail one major way in which fraudsters are active in reading the pre-printed authentication code on the card.
A telephone card issuer in Italy has taken action to curtail one major way in which fraudsters are active in reading the pre-printed authentication code on the card Intended to be covert and unreadable, the codes, which enable legitimate users to re-charge their cards with additional funds, can be easily viewed with the use of a basic laser reader
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 24 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Printers charged with converting phone cards found a solution that worked - the use of multiple ink layers to render the code opaque.
Practical though that proved, it was an extremely costly way of guaranteeing the cards' security and card issuers are anxious to minimise the cost of producing what are limited-life items, said Xsys Print Solutions.
Working with Italian converter Eurolabel, Xsys Print Solutions' Narrow Web Division developed an economical, secure answer to the problem that offered additional protection against another popular phone card fraud, said the company.
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Marco Mastandrea, managing director of Xsys Print Solutions' Narrow Web Division in Italy: "Eurolabel was keen to deliver all-round security to its phone card customers but at the right price.
Together, we engineered a method of using our new Holographink to give the kind of security expected from a standard hologram at a fraction of the cost." The cold-foil application of the Holographink process was achieved in-line during the conversion of the phone cards on Eurolabel's UV flexo Arsoma M 280 press.
The cards were first printed using standard Xsys UV flexo inks, and then patch overprinted on top of the code with a so-called 'wallpaper' hologram, which renders the code invisible, even to laser readers.
Xsys said that conversion speeds were acceptable - an average of 80 metres per minute - and the Holographink process delivered optimal security without the high costs usually associated with holography.
But that was not the only benefit of the new system, as Mastandrea pointed out: "We were able to kill two birds with one stone.
The added benefit of the hologram produced using Holographink was that the phone cards were also impossible to copy - another blow for the card fraudsters." According to Xsys, Eurolabel and its customers were delighted because they have benefited from working with suppliers, such as Xsys, who helped to get the most out of their presses, whilst strengthening relationships with customers by offering added security for their products.
Now Eurolabel is exploring the possibilities of using the same printed Holographink system to give added security to other types of card.
Marco Mastandrea commented: "We are looking at the possibilities of protecting residents' pass cards for areas of the city which are 'no go' except for residents and authenticated visitors.
In this case, we will print the cards with a transparent foil and a special personalised Holographink pattern carrying a unique logo for that particular district." He added: "Xsys can offer a guaranteed customer-unique service on Holographink logos, symbols and holographic patterns, so we can really offer a confidential service and peace of mind for the users.".
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